ALL SYSTEMS GO! After months of detailed planning, the new East Midlands rail franchise is now live and set to bring big improvements for passengers. SPECIAL FEATURE PAGES 8&9 The newspaper of Stagecoach Group Issue 69 Winter 07-08 Boxing clever 6 On-board, on-line 12 UK Bus Awards 14 MBE honour 16 CHIP PAN FUEL IS JUST THE TICKET • Pure biodiesel from used cooking oil to power vehicles in Scottish trial Get me to the church on time! • Cleaner fuel technology expected to cut CO2 emissions by up to 82% PASSENGERS are enjoying their own a free container to recycle their used said: “I welcome this innovative oil boom, thanks to a groundbreaking cooking oil. collaboration between two of our green bus project. The oil can then be exchanged for leading companies. Stagecoach has launched the UK’s bus discount vouchers at East Ayrshire “A recycling initiative that fuels public first Bio-buses as part of an eco- Council’s Western Road recycling plant. transport cuts carbon emissions twice friendly initiative allowing customers The single-deck Bio-buses, running over. It is particularly important that to exchange their used cooking oil for under the slogan “Do your part, be Bio the project is using bio-fuel from wholly cheaper bus travel. smart!”, have been fitted with specially- recycled material and not from a source by Ian Giles Photos www.iangilesphotos.co.uk by Eight vehicles in Kilmarnock are made dual fuel tanks as part of the competing with food production.” running on 100% sustainable biodiesel project undertaken with Motherwell Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group made from used cooking oil and other biodiesel business Argent Energy Ltd. Chief Executive, said: “This innovative Image food industry by-products, resulting in The project will produce an annual project is a great opportunity for our an expected 82% cut in CO2 emissions. saving of 960 tonnes in carbon customers to play their part in saving All households on the Service 1 route emissions. the planet by recycling household – which runs from Stewarton to Darvel Launching the initiative, Secretary of products that would otherwise go to via Kilmarnock and carries around State for Scotland and Kilmarnock and waste. 15,500 passengers a week – will receive Loudon MP The Rt Hon Des Browne “I’m sure the idea of cheaper travel in exchange for the used contents of your chip pan will capture people’s imagination. “Bio-energy is an excellent renewable fuel, which has a number Stuart and Claire Draper with the 1968 Regent MK1. of environmental benefits, and we are WHEN Kent bus driver Stuart Draper was planning his delighted to carry out the first UK trial wedding to Claire Robinson, there was only one way to of this technology on a commercial travel… by bus! bus service. We are looking forward Stuart hired Stagecoach South / East Kent and Hastings’ to assessing these vehicles and the restored 1968 AEC Regent MK1 double decker bus to take potential of this technology for our bus guests from St Peters Church, Broadstairs to Quex Park in operations in the UK.” Birchington. Stagecoach currently uses a blend And his colleague, Thanet controller Lana Jefferies, drove of 5 per cent biodiesel in more than it for him! 4,300 vehicles, covering around 60 per “My family and friends were delighted,” said Stuart. cent of its UK Bus fleet. In 2006, the “They loved the scenic trip along Margate seafront and Group conducted the first UK trials of a thought the bus looked amazing. I’m really happy that I bioethanol-fuelled bus outside London chose the Regent as it added to our very special day.” to evaluate the technology that can use The happy couple live in Broadstairs, Kent, and Stuart sugar beets to power vehicles. has been driving at the Stagecoach Thanet depot since The pilot study covered Liverpool, January 2003. Barnsley, Sheffield, Newcastle and The historic bus carries 60s-style advertising supplied Manchester. Ethanol-powered buses are by Thanet-based Hornby, famous for its train sets and already in operation in Sweden, Spain, Scalextric. Restored by the engineering team at Thanet Launching the new project are, from left: Bill Stafford, Chief Executive, Neighbourhood Services, East Italy and Poland, delivering significant depot in 2006, it’s now used for private hires and charity Ayrshire Council; Des Browne, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun; Stagecoach Group Chief Executive reductions in carbon dioxide and events. Brian Souter and Sam Greer, Managing Director, Stagecoach West Scotland. particulate matter. STAGECOACH in Warwickshire honoured its long-standing employees at a special STAFF HONOURED FOR THEIR LONG SERVICE Praise for presentation event. Eleven colleagues were recognised – all pension fund having served 20 years or more with the company. STAGECOACH Group has one They were treated to a three-course meal of the UK’s leading corporate before receiving a certificate, badge and gift pension funds for responsible in- from Phil Medlicott, Managing Director for vestment, according to a major Warwickshire and Mike Bishop, the region’s new report. Engineering Director. The UK Social Investment The longest-serving member was Robert Forum (UKSIF), the Milne, who has been a driver with the membership body for company for 35 years. responsible investment, ranked Phil Medlicott said: “It’s great to be able the Stagecoach Group Pension to honour people for their commitment Scheme as one of the top three to Stagecoach and to have so many still in the country. reaching these milestones is testament to the The findings are contained in company and the employees’ hard work.” the UKSIF report ‘Responsible Business: Sustainable Pension - How the Pension Funds of the UK’s Corporate Responsibil- ity Leaders are approaching responsible investment’. The Stagecoach Group Pension STAGECOACH POSTS Scheme -– a defined benefits scheme with more than 21,000 members and assets under management worth more than £580 million – was given a gold STRONG RESULTS ranking, the second-highest level of award. The report said it was one of STAGECOACH Group has UK and North America are three schemes that had dem- posted a strong set of half-year Revenue up 9% performing strongly. We believe onstrated “particularly strong results as more people get on increasing car congestion, inward leadership”. board its bus and train services. migration and a growing focus on Derek Scott, Chairman Revenue from the Group’s Earnings per share up 62.1% environmental issues will provide of Trustees, Stagecoach continuing operations shot up by more opportunities to attract Group Pension Scheme, said: more than 9% for the six months passengers to our public transport “Responsible investment is not ended October 31, 2007, while Bus passenger volumes up 3.9% services in the years ahead. just common sense for pensions earnings per share were up by a “The Group is well-positioned trustees, it is both good business massive 62.1%. to deliver further value to our sense and essential to the proper Stagecoach grew passenger Rail revenue up 16.6% shareholders and we are confident discharge of fiduciary responsi- volumes in its UK Bus division by in the prospects for the rest of the bilities.” an estimated 3.9% compared to year.” the same period in 2006. growth. Revenue from rail Group’s North American Stagecoach Group Chairman Strong partnerships with operations was up 16.6%. operations where growth has Robert Speirs added: “I would Impressive local authorities, coupled with Stagecoach was boosted in continued in sightseeing, charter, like to thank our employees across innovative services and the November 2007 with the start contract, commuter and scheduled the Group, whose continued apprentice success of its telemarketing of its new East Midlands rail services. hard work and commitment to campaigns, have been behind the franchise. Now Britain’s biggest Stagecoach Chief Executive Brian first-class customer service is A YOUNG apprentice has huge return to public transport. tram operator, the Group has also Souter said: “We have achieved crucial in growing our business. earned a glowing tribute from Excellent operational delivery at made a good start to the 10-year further strong growth in our bus Putting passengers first is at his bosses. the Group’s rail division, where Manchester Metrolink operations and rail operations, leading the the heart of what we do every Stagecoach North East nominat- South Western recorded its best and maintenance contract. market with our innovation and day and we have clear plans to ed Christopher James, a young ever performance, continued to Both revenue and margins strong stakeholder partnerships. build on our new and existing apprentice from the Slatyford drive revenue and passenger continued to improve at the “Our bus operations in the operations.” depot, in this year’s Apprentice of the Year Awards – and never was a nomination more deserved. Bob Aspinall, Engineering Sayed’s still Go fir it! Manager at the Slatyford depot, explained: “Chris is a hard-work- COACH Canada staff ing young man who has consist- going strong swapped baubles for bottles ently impressed me with his for an enchanting Christmas enthusiasm and commitment. AT the age of 77, Sayed Khatib from event. “I have never entered a worker Lindford, Hampshire, is thought to Taking part in Ontario’s into the national Apprentice be the oldest full-time bus driver Peterborough Festival of Awards before, but I was so within the Stagecoach Group, and Trees for the seventh time, pleased with Chris’ development possibly within the UK bus indus- the Coach Canada team of that I felt he deserved it. try. Debbie Nayler, Sue Adam, “While he didn’t win, he Based at the Aldershot depot, Lyn Morrow and Jan Fortune has become a valuable team Sayed says he enjoys the job and created a special Wine Tree.